Refugees To U.S. Thoroughly Checked Out

The U.S. has a rigorous security check process and takes refugees from refugee camps, not from those who have fled to Europe. Their clearances are top-level. I mention this only because of the backlash we are hearing from other states, where governors are saying they will not accept Syrian refugees.

The U.S. handpicks the refugees who resettle here, and they go through multiple layers of security checks involving the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, making them the most thoroughly vetted group of people who come to the United States. These checks typically require two or three years before a refugee is cleared and can be brought to the U.S.

This is not an either/or situation. The United States can continue to welcome refugees while continuing to ensure our own security. We must do both.